Bowling score computer



5 Sheets-Sheet 2 G.APOSTLE ETAL BOWLING SCORE COMPUTER March 2l, 1967 Filed Nov. 17, 1961 21, 1967 G. APosTLE ETA.. 3,310,659

BOWLING SCORE COMPUTER Filed Nov. 17, 1961 A 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 21, 1967 G. APosTLE ETAL BOWLING SCORE COMPUTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 17, 1961 Ue dy 7%@ arch 2l, 1967 Filed Nov. 17, 1961 G. APOSTLE ETAL.

BOWLING SCORE COMPUTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5' United States e Patent 3,310,659 BOWLING SCORE COMPUTER George Apostle and De Wayne P. Carlson, both 'of 257 W. Webster Ave., Muskegon, Mich. 49440, and Patrick J. Pollard, 732 Elmsford Drive, Clawson, Mich. 48017 Filed Nov. 17, 1961, Ser. No. 153,173 26 Claims. (Cl. 23S-92) This invention relates to a system for tabulating bowling information including a computer for automatically computing bowling scores.

A system for tabulating bowling information must have means therein to account for all of the various conditions which can arise in a bowling game; likewise, a computer for automatically computing bowling scores must have means to recognize and to account for these conditions.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a system for tabulating bowling information having means therein to account for all of the various conditions possible in a bowling game.

It is another object of this invention to provide a bowling score computer for automatically computing the bowling score while taking into account all of the various conditions possible in a bowling game.

It is desirable that a system for tabulating bowling information, including a computer for automatically computing bowling scores, be equally applicable for either league bowling or open bowling. It is also desirable that the system, including the computer, be adapted to account for bowlers bowling in any sequence rather than requiring a fixed order of bowling. Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a system for tabulating bowling information, including a computer for automatically computing bowling scores which is equally applicable to open or closed bowling. It is a further object of this invention to provide a system for tabulating bowling information including a computer for automatically computing bowling scores in whichV the sequence of bowlers is variably selectable.

It is also desirable that a system for tabulating bowling information, including a computer for automatically computing bowling scores, have reliability; therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a system for tabulating bowling information including a computer for automatically computing bowling scores which is reliable and requires a minimum amount of maintenance.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a block diagram of a system for tabulating bowling information embodying the features of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a combined block and schematic diagram of the pin-fall indicator of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the pulse generator circuit and the strike, spare, and error computers of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a schematic diagram of the computer selector circuit of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the control signal generator of the pulse generator circuit, the master computer circuit, and the strike, spare, and frame indicator circuit;

FIGURE 6 is a schematic diagram of the pulse generator control' of the pulse generator circuit of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 7 is a schematic diagram of a portion of the master computer circuit of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 8 is a schematic diagram of a portion of the master computer circuit of FIGURE 5;

3,310,659 Patented Mar. 21, 1967 ice FIGURE 9 is a schematic diagram of a circuit operative with the pin-fall indicator circuit of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 10 is a schematic diagram of a portion of the master computer circuit of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 11 is a schematic diagram of the mark counter and reset circuit;

FIGURE 12 is a schematic diagram of a reset switch and associated reset coils; and

FIGURE 1'3 is a schematic diagram of the sequence control and score counter indicator circuit of FIGURE 1.

(I) GENERAL DESCRIPTION The system of this invention for tabulating bowling informa-tion including a bowling score computer is a twoalley system whereby the score of a bowler bowling a single game simultaneously on two adjacent alleys can be tabulated. This type of bowling occurs usually in league bowling in which the individuals of two five-man teams bowl alternately on successive frames on first one and then on another of two adjacent alleys. The system of this invention also has means whereby the scores of bowlers bowling an entire game on a single alley can be tabulated. In general, then, FIGURE 1 shows in block diagram form the system of this invention for tabulating bowling information including a bowling score computer. The system comprises a pin-fall indicator 10 for each alley each of which has meansV to provide a pair of electrical signals in accordance with the pin-fall on that alley with which it is associated. The first signal indicates the total pin-fall after each ball that is thrown, while the other signal, via a memory circuit, provides only the pin count obtained on the iirst ball thrown. Each pin-fall indicator 10 has associated with it a pulse generator circuit 12 into which the pair of signals is fed. In the pulse generator 12, the total pin count signal is fed into a strike generator 14, a spare generator 18 and an error generator 22 while the memory signal is fed into a spare memory generator 16 and an error memory generator 20. Each of the generators 14 through 22 is operative to provide an output signal in accordance with the input signal responsively to actuation by a pulse generator control 24 which also controls the output from a control signal generator 26. The output signal from each of the generators 14-22 consists of a pulse for each pin knocked down in accordance with that one of the pair of electrical signals which it receives. The output signal from the strike generator 14 is fed into a strike computer 28; the output signals from the spare memory generator 16 and the spare generator 18 are fed into a spare computer 30 and the output from the error memory generator 20 and the error generator 22 is fed into an error computer 32. A strike computer 28, spare computer 30, and error computer 32 are provided for each individual bowler. Selection of the proper ones of the computers 28-32 is made by the individual bowler by means of a computer selector 27 which allows the individual bowler to select his computers 28-32 and interconnect the same to that pin-fall indicator 10 and pulse generator 12 associated with that one of the two alleys upon which he is about to bowl. The total number of pulses transmitted from the computers 28-32 is an indication of that bowlers score.

A separate master computer 38 is also provided for each individual bowler on each alley and is selected via the computer selector 27 by that bowler for that alley on which he is to bowl. The master computer 38 controls and determines under various conditions which one or ones of the computers 28-32 is to provide an output signal for each alley; the master computor 38, however, is receptive to and controlled, via the computor selector 26, by

only that one associated with the alley upon which the individual is to bowl. The output signal from the computors 28 through 32 is then selectively fed into a totalizing circuit 34 which provides an indication, by means of a sequence control circuit 36 and a score counter and indicator 42, of the total score of tha-t individual. The sequence control circuit 26 is controlled by the master computor 38 in a manner to be described.

II. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF OPERATION In general, the computor circuit as shown in FIGURE 1 operates in the manner described below. The strike computor 28 will transmit the output signal from the strike generator 14, which consists of a number of pulses equal to the total pin-fall, obtained on the next ball thrown only after two strikes or more have been obtained in sequence. Thus, the strike computor 28 will transmit the signal from the strike generator 14 to the totalizing circuit 34 to read the pin count on the ball thrown after two strikes in succession and if that ball thrown is a strike, then to also transmit the pin count obtained on the following ball, etc. The strike computor 28 is placed in a condition to so transmit by the master computor 38 as controlled by the control signal generator 26. The strike computor circuit 28 has provisions therein such that the commission of a foul will prevent the output from the strike generator 14 from being transmitted therethrough to the totalizing circuit 34.

The spare computor 30 receives a total pin count signal from the spare generator 18 and a memory signal from the spare memory generator 16; the spare computor 30 transmits the signal from the spare generator 18 to the totalizing circuit 34 under the following conditions: (l) If a strike is obtained in the previous frame and no strike is made in the succeeding frame, then the spare computor 30 will transmit the signal from the spare generator 18 to read the total pin count after the second ball thrown in that succeeding frame; (2) if a strike is obtained in the preceding frame and a strike is obtained in the succeeding frame, the spare computor 30 will transmit the total pin count, the strike, from the spare generator 18 to the totalizing circuit 34. Any strikes obtained successively will likewise be transmitted from the spare generator 18 by the spare computor 32 to ltotalizing circuit 34; and (3) if a spare has been obtained in the previous frame, the spare computor 30 will transmit a signal from the spare generator 18 indicating the total pin count obtained on the tirs-t ball in the succeeding frame. The above information to the spare computor 30 is transmitted in accordance with signals received from the master computor 38 as controlled by the control signal generator 26. The spare computor 30 has circuitry such that if a foul is committed `on the first or second balls, no signal will be transmitted from the spare generator 18. If, however, a foul is committed on the second ball, then the output from the spare memory generator 16 is substituted for the spare generator 18 and transmitted to the totalizing circuit 34 under the appropriate conditions as listed in (l) through (3), above. As can be seen, this substitution would occur only in the rst condition listed above. Under no other condition is the spare memory generator 16 allowed to transmit its output signal to the totalizing circuit 34 through the spare computor 30.

The error computor 32 is fed signals from the error generator 22 and the error memory generator 20. The error computor 32 will transmit the output signal from the error generator 22 to the totalizing circuit 34 under the following conditions: (1) the pin count obtained on the first ball will be transmitted therethrough only if a strike is obtained on the ball; (2) the pin count obtained after a second ball has been thrown in a frame will be transmitted therethrough. The transmission of the above signals from the error computor 32 is controlled by the master computor 38. The signal from the error memory generator 20 is transmitted to the totalizing circuit 34 via the error computor 32 only in the event that a foul is committed on the second ball thrown in any given frame. In that event, the output from the error memory generator 20 will be substituted for the output from the error generator 22 which will be only in the second condition listed above. Thus, if a foul is committed on the second ball, the error computor 32 transmits a signal from the error memory generator 22, which will be the pin count obtained on the iirst ball only. The selection of the signal from either the error generator 22 or the error memory generator 20 by the error computor 32 is controlled by the master computor 38. In the Aevent of a foul on the rirst ball, no output will be transmitted to the totalizing circuit 34 via the error computor 32.

In looking at the above description of operation, it can be appreciated that under certain conditions more than one of the computors 28 through 32 can transmit a signal to the totalizing circuit 34 for a given ball thrown. Since the signals transmitted consist of a plurality of pulses equal to the pin fall information to be transmitted and since counters are utilized in the totalizing circuit 34 which are sensitive only to the reception of a single signal at any one time, the transmission of the output from the computors 28-32 are staggered. In the preferred embodiment, the output transmitted through the strike computor 28 is irst transmitted then the output transmitted through the spare computor 30 is transmitted and iinally the output through the error computor 32 is transmitted.

In view of the above description, it can be seen that the totalizing circuit 34 will receive a number of pulses in ac cordance with the score obtained bythe bowler. For ex ample, if a bowler commits an error in the irst frame (obtains neither a spare nor a strike), the total pin count obtained in the first frame will be transmitted to the totalizing circuit 34 via the error computor 32 in accordance with its second mode of operation. Neither the strike computor 28 nor the spare computor 30 will transmit signals under such conditions. If, in the following frame, a strike is obtained, again the signal will be transmitted to the totalizing circuits 34 only through the error computor 32. If, in the third frame, another strike is obtained, then this pin count will be transmitted to the totalizing circuit 34 by the error computor 32 in accordance with its first mode of operation and by the spare computor in accordance with its second mode of operation. Thus, twenty pulses will be transmitted to the totalizing circuit 34. For each succeeding strike thrown thereafter, it can be seen then that the error computor 32 will transmit the pin count to the totalizing circuit 34 in accordance with its first mode of operation; the spare computor 30 will transmit the pin count to the totalizing circuit 34 in accordance with its second mode of operation; and the strike computor 28 will transmit the pin count to the totalizing circuit 34 in accordance with its single mode of operation. Thus, a total of thirty pulses will be transmitted to the totalizing `circuit 34; likewise, for each successive strike made thereafter, thirty additional pulses are transmitted to the totalizing circuit 34. In the event that the chain of strikes is interrupted, it can be seen that the pin count total thrown on the first ball will be transmitted to the totalizing circuit 34 via the strike computor 28. The total on the second ball will be transmitted to the totalizing circuit 34 via the spare computor 30 per its first mode of operation listed above and from the error computor 32 per its second mode of operation listed above. A numerical total of these pulses then is equal to the total score to which the individual bowler is entitled at the completion of the frame. Assuming that a spare is obtained, the pin count on the tirst ball in the next succeeding 'frame will be transmitted to the totalizing circuit 34 via the spare computor 30 per its third mode of operation. Thus it can be seen that the master computor 38, by placing the computors 28-32 in a condition to transmit the signals from the generators 14-22 provides a means whereby a number ot individual pulses is transmitted equal to the individual bowiers score.

As previously mentioned, each of the individual computors 28432, including the associated master computor 38, is associated with a totalizing circuit 34. Thus, a totalizing circuit 34 is provided for each individual bowler whereby his score is recorded. It is desirable not only that the total score obtained by a player at the end of a particular frame be recorded, but also that a frame-by-frame record be provided. This is attained by the use of a separate counter for each frame and the sequence control circuit 36 which is controlled by the master computor 38 such as' to sequentially energize the counters in the score counter and indicator circuit 40 in a preselected order such that the pulsed outputs transmittedl through the computors 28-32 will be recorded in the proper frame to provide a frame-'by-frame total of the individual bowlers score. In addition to the above mentioned'information which is recorded, the master computor 38 is connected to a strike, spare and frame indicator 42 such that any strikes or spares obtained will be recorded with the conventional type of indication and in the proper frame. With this description of the general operation of the system of this invention, a detailed description of a preferred embodiment of this system'will now be presented.

The preferred embodiment to be described is, for the most part, a relay system. The basic types of relays utilized are'a standard single coil opened and closed type relay, a magnetic hold type relay, and a stepping relay. In the standard single coil type relay, the contacts associated therewith are placed either in an opened or closed position (depending on whether the contacts are of the normally opened or normally closed type) and maintained in this position as long as the coil associated therewith is energized. The magnetic hold type relay has a pulsing coil and a reset coil such that upon energization of the pulsing coil the contacts are placed either in the opened or closed position (depending on whether the relay is a normally opened or a normally closed type relay) and are maintained there even though the potential energizing the pulsing coil is removed. The contacts are placed in the opposite condition only upon energization of the reset coil. The stepping relay also has a pulsing coil and a reset coil and operates such that each time the pulsing coil is energized the contacts are closed in a diiferent position. Upon energization of the reset coil the stepping relay is returned back to its original position. In vreferring to the Various types of relays, a code has been adapted, an explanation of which at this time should prove helpful in the understanding of the material which follows. The general indication of a relay is indicated by the letter R. The indication of the relay used at a specific application is indicated by a capital letter following the letter R, i.e. R-A. However, in some applications there are several relays serving similar functions; these are distinguished by a numeral subscript, i.e. R-Al. Whether the relay is of the magnetic hold type or of the standard single coil type, the pulsing coil associated with the relay is given the identical designation as the relay, save for the addition of the subscript p added to the letter R, i.e. Rp-Al. For those types of relays in which a reset coil is utilized, the "subscript r is used instead, i.e. Rr-Al. Oftentimes there are a plurality of contacts which are actuable by a single coil or by a single relay. The individual contacts are then indicated in numerical sequence by the addition of numbers following the relay designation; hence R-A1-1 indicates the rst set of contacts associated with the relay R-Al. In the drawings only the coils, contacts, etc., of the various relays are shown, the designation of the actual relay as an integral part being used only for the purposes of discussion.

6 (III) DESCRIPTION OF OPERATION (A) Pin-fall indicator The circuitry of the pin-fall indicator 10 is shown in FIGURE 2 and comprises a pin-fall detector generally indicated by the numeral 44. The pin-fall detector 44 can be any one of avariety of types; for example, a photo cell circuit could be utilized indicating the presence or absence of pins at a given spot over a given area, or a micro switch type circuit could be utilized to indicate the same information. Regardless of the type of pin-fall detector utilized, an individual signal is provided from each dete-ctor P1-P10 for eachrpin which has been knocked down. Each of the detectorsV P1-P10 is connected to one of a plurality of pulsing coils Rp-Dl through Rp-Dm of a plurality of single coil relays R-Dl through R-Dm. Thus, when va signal appears from one of the detectors P1-P10, the corresponding ones of` coils Rp-Dl through Rp-Dm are energized. Each of the detectors P1-P10 is similarly connected to one of la plurality of coils Rp-C1 through Rp-Cw of a plurality of magnetic hold type relays R-Cl through R-Clo'.

As previously mentioned, a separate pin-fall indicator 10 Iis located in each of the two alleys associated with the system. Thus, depending upon the number of pins knocked down, a number of the detectors P1-P10 will be actuated to thereby energize the corresponding ones of the coils Rp-Dl through Rp-Dm and Rp-Cl through Rp-Clo. The signal then from the pin-fall indicator 10 is then fed to the pulse generator circuit 12 in a manner to be described.

(B) Pulse generator circuit Looking now to FIGURE 3, each of the coils Rp-Dl through Rp-Dlo has associated with it a normally opened contact R-D1-1 through R-D10-1, respectively. Thus, on energization of the individual ones of the coils R-D1 through R-Dw, corresponding ones of the associated contacts will be moved to a closed position. These contacts are connected to a source of potential, i.e. 24 volts. The

' potential at the contacts R-D1-1 through R-D10-1 in the closed position is then transmitted to a corresponding one of a plurality of radially disposed contacts on the strike generator 14, the spare generator 18, and the error generator 22. Likewise, each of' the pulse coils Rp-C1 through R13-C10 has associated therewith one of a plurality of normally opened contacts R-C1-1 through R-Cm-L respectively, each of which is also individually connected to an appropriate source of potential (24 volts). Each of the latter contactspis connected to an individual one of a plurality of radial contacts on both the spare memory generator 16 and on the error memory generator 20.

Each of the generators 14-22 has a wiper engageable with the respective plurality of radially disposed contacts and is mounted upon a common shaft and driven by an electric motor which is controlled in a manner to be described. The wipers associated with the generators 14-22 are in substantial radial coincidence with respect to the common shaft which drives them. However, the radial contacts on the generators 14-272 are located in a predetermined physical relationship such that the various sets of radially disposed contacts are engaged by their respective wipers in a predetermined order. Thus, the radial contacts of the strike generator 14 are located in a rst radial position; the radial contacts for the spare memory generator 16 and spare generator 18 are substantially radially coincident and are physically displaced radially from the radial contacts of the generators 16 and 18. Thus, looking to FIGURE 2, as the shaft carrying the various wipers is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, the wiper of the strike generator 14 will first completely sweep through and engage the associated radial contacts; as the shaft continues in its counterclockwise rotation, the radial contacts on the spare memory generator 16 and spare generator 18 will next be engaged substantially simultaneously by their respective wipers; and nally, upon further counterclockwise rotation of the shaft, the radial contacts on the error memory generator 20 and error generator 22 will be engaged by their associated wipers. This physical relationship has been provided between the various sets of radial contacts in order that the signals from two or more of the generators 14-22 can be transmitted to the totalizing circuit 34 for a. single revolution of the shaft carrying the various wipers. Note that while the physical displacement has been described in terms of displacement of the various radial contacts on the generators 14-22, the same result could have been accomplished by locating all the radial contacts in a single radial sector and by appropriately displacing the various wipers associated with the generators 14-22.

The pair of signals from the pin-fall indicator 10, which are fed to the generators 14-22 are then fed to the proper set of computers 28-32 for the individual bowler as selected by him via the computer selector 27 (FIGURE 1).

The operation of the control signal generator 26 will be described in detail in conjunction with the discussion of the master computer 3S.

(C) Computer selector Looking now to FIGURE 4, the computer selector 27 comprises a plurality of switches SB1 through S-B20 to accommodate league bowling in which ten individuals would be bowling on the two adjacent alleys. The individual selector switches S-Bl through S-Bm are provided for actuation by the individual bowler when bowling on the first `of the two alleys and the switches S-Bn through S-B20 are provided for the same individuals when bowling on the second alley. Thus, if bowler No. 1 were bowling on alley No. l, he would select the switch S-Bl; if bowler No. 1 were bowling on alley No. 2, he would select the switch S-Bu and similarly for the other bowlers. The switches S-B1 through S-B20 are of the four-pole single throw type switch. Since all of the switches are identical, only the switch SB1 need be described in detail.

The switch S-B1 comprises three poles, a-c, which are normally opened, and a fourth pole d which is normally closed. The switch S-Bl is such that the pole d is opened slightly before the poles a-c are closed for a purpose to be described. All of the poles a-c are connected to a source of potential, i.e. 24 volts; the pole d is connected in series to the pole b and thence to the source of potential. Assuming now that the bowler No. 1 is to bowl in alley No. 1, the switch S-B1 is actuated; instantaneously then the pole d is opened and the poles a-c are closed. Upon closing of pole a the pulse coil Rp-Bl for the magnetic hold type relay R-B1 is actuated, thus energizing the contacts for that relay, thereby energizing contacts R-Bl-l through R4B1-18 (shown in another figure and to be presently described). On switches S-Bl through S-Bm all of the poles b are connected in parallel and are serially connected to all of the poles d which are also connected in parallel. The switches S-Bu through S-B20 are similarly connected. By closing the pole b, a source of 24 volts is impressed via the normally closed contact d associated with the remainder of the switches S-B2 through S-Bm to energize the reset coils Rr-Bg through Rr-Blo of relays R-B1 through R-Blo which are in series with the contacts d and which have one end connected to ground. This insures that all of the relays R-B?A through R-B are deenergized and are returned to their original position upon the selection by the bowler No. l. Note however that the reset coil Rr-Bl associated with switch S-Bl is not actuated, since the corresponding pole d is in an opened position at the time the associated pole b is in the closed position, since it opens an instant before b closes. Thus upon actuation of the switch S-B1, only the contacts associated with the pulsing coil Rp-Bl are actuated and those contacts associated with pulsing coils RVB?l through Rp-Blo are returned to their original positions by actuation of reset coils Rr-Bz through Rr-Bm. This circuit arrangement insures that only the circuitry for bowler No. 1 on alley No. 1 will be actuated and that all of the other circuits for bowlers No. 2 through No. 10 are deactuated.

With the pole c closed on switch S-B1, the potential (24 volts) is impressed across a pulsing coil Rp-Al of a bowl select relay R-A1 for a purpose to be described.

The computer selector 27 in operation allows an individual bowler to select the pin-fall indicator 10 and pulse generator 12 of one of the two alleys to be connected to his individual computers 28-32. For example, the bowler No. 1 would be assigned the switch S-B1 if bowling on alley No. 1, and the switch S-Bu if bowling on alley No. 2. By actuating switch S-Bl, the computers of bowler No. 1 will be connectedl to the pin-fall detector 10 and pulse generator 12 of alley No. 1; by selecting switch S-Bn, bowler No. 1 will connect the same computers to the pin-fall detector 10 and pulse generator 12 of alley No. 2.

The above described operation is for league-type bowling. It should be understood, however, that the apparatus as described and to be described, is operable in open bowling in which individuals bowl solely on one alley. To facilitate this type of operation, means have been provided to insure that during open bowling an individual bowler bowling on alley No. 1 cannot select the computers of a bowler bowling on alley No. 2 and vice versa To accomplish this, the switches S-Bl through S-B5 have their poles a through c connected together and connected to the source -of potential; the poles a through c on switches S-B6 through S-B15 are connected together and connected to the source of potential through an open bowling switch S-A1; the remaining switches S-Bls through SB20 are also parallelly connected directly to the common source of potential. During league type bowling the switch S-Al is closed, thereby connecting all of the switches S-B through S-B15 to the source of potential and allowing computer selection by the individual bowlers from alley No. 1 to alley No. 2 in the manner described above. However, for open bowling, switch S-Al is opened, removing the potential from the switches S-B6 through SB15, thereby making impossible the selection of the particular computors associated with these switches. Since the switches S-Bl through S-B5 for alley No. 1 are associated with the switches S-Bn through SB15, respectively, of alley No. 2, it can be seen that a bowler on alley No. 2 cannot mistakenly select the computers of a bowler on alley No. 1, since the common switches S-BH through S-B15 are deactuated. Similarly, since the switches S-B6 through S-Bm correspond to the switches S-Bm through S-Bzo and since the former switches for alley No. 1 are deactuated, the selection by a bowler on alley No. 1 of one of the computers being utilized by a bowler on the alley No. 2 is made impossible. Thus, the computer selector circuit 27 has means whereby either opened or closed bowling can be selected and with such means preventing the erroneous selection of a computer individual to alley No. 1 by a bowler on alley No. 2, and vice versa. Note also that the computer selector circuit 27 does not sequence automatically Ior regiment the order in which individual bowlers must bowl. This arrangement accommodates situations oftentimes occurring in both league and open type bowling in which bowlers are required to bowl out of turn; thus the order of selection is made Completely within the discretion of the bowlers.

Assuming, then, that bowler No. l is to bowl on alley No. 1, the switch S-Bl is closed, thereby actuating the pulse coil Rp-Bl of the magnetic hold relay RB1, thereby closing the contacts R-Bl-l through RB118 and thus connecting the associated strike computer 28, spare computer 30 and error computer 32 (FIGURE 3) to the appropriate generator 14-22, as previously described, via the contacts R-B1-1 through R-B1-5, respectively. Since the computers for the other bowlers are identical to those shown in FIGURE 3 and are connected in a similar manner to the generators 14 through 22, only the operation of one set of computers will be described. Only that set of computers 28-32 will be placed in a condition to receive the signal from the generators 14-22, depending upon the selection made at computer selector 27; therefore, upon closing the switch S-Bl and actuating the pulsing coil Rp-Bl, the contacts R-B1-1 through R-B1-5 are closed, thereby connecting in the computer-s 28-32 for bowler No. l to the generators 14-22 of alley No. 1. Note that the cont-acts R-Bu-l through R-Bu-S are shown open. It is through these contacts that the same set of computers 28-32 for bowler No. 1 is connected to the generators 14-22 of alley No. 2. Since the sequence of operation to be described is identical regardless of which pulse generator 12 and pin-fall indicator 10 are used, it shall be assumed, for purposes of description, that bowler No. 1 is bowling on alley No. 1 and the pulse generator 12 and pin-fall indicator 10 for that alley are being used. Thus, by closing the switch S`-B1, the contacts R-B1-1 are closed, connecting the strike generator 14 to the strike computer circuit 28; the contacts RB12 are closed, connecting the spare memory generator 16 to the spare computer 30; the contacts R-B1-3 are closed, connecting the spare generator 18 to the spare computer 30; the contacts R-B1-4 are closed, connecting the error memory generator 20 to the error computer 32; and the contacts R-Bl-S are closed, connecting the error generator 22 to the error computer 32. With the cornputers 28-32 of the bowler No. 1 connected to the generators 14-22, the actual operation of these computers, then, is determined by the master computer 38.

(D) Computers r logic circuits Looking now to FIGURE 1, the master computer 38 is dependent upon a signal from the control signal generator 26 of the pulse generator 12. Each master cornputer 38 is associated with a pair of control signal generators 26, one from each of the two alleys. Hence, ten control signal generators 26 are provided on alley No. 1, each with a wiper which is rotatable on the same shaft with the wipers of generators 14-22 on the same alley. Likewise, an additional ten control signal generators 26 are provided on alley No. 2, each with a wiper which is rotatable with the wipers of generators 14-22 on that alley. Looking now to FIGURE 5, a control signal generator 26 for bowler No. 1 on alley No. 1 is shown to be selectable for that 4bowler and connectable to a source of potential (24 volts) by means of the contacts R-B1-6. Thus, in closing the contacts R-B1-6, that wiper and only that wiper of the associated control signal generator 26 is energized. Thus, by closing the switch S-Bl in the computer selector 26, the control signal generator for that individual and for that master computer 38 associated with switch SB1 is thereby energized. If the bowler No. l were bowling on alley No. 2 and closed the switch S-Bu on the computer selector 26, then that one of the control signal generators 26 on alley No. 2 associated with that master computer 38 is energized via contacts R-B116- Thus, only the selected control signal generator 26 for each alley is energized.

Since the control signal generators 26 all operate in the same manner, the description of one in detail should be suiiicient. FIGURE shows the master computer 38 interconnected with the signal generator 216 of alley No. 1. The control signal generator 26 has a wiper w thereon, similar to the other pulse generators 14-22, and located in phyiscal angular phase coincidence with the latter wipers. The control signal generator 26 has a contact e which is located physically angularly so as to be engaged by the wiper w before the wiper associated with the strike generator 14 engages any of the ten contacts associated therewith. Four other contacts f-z' are physically disposed angularly so as to be engaged by the wipers w `only after the wipers associated with the generators 14-22 have completed engagement with their associated decade of contacts. The contacts e-i of the control signal generator 2'6 on alley No. 1 are connected in parallel with similar contacts eof the other generator 2'6 on alley No. 2 which is associated with the same master computer 38; the wiper w of the former generator is connected to a source of potential via contacts R-B1-6 while a wiper w of the latter generator is similarly connected via contacts R-B11-6. Note that the strike generator for alley No. 2 is connected into the strike computer 28 via contact R-Bn-I; the spare memory generator and the spare generator for alley No. 2 are connected into the spare computer 30 via contacts R-B11-2 and R-B11-3 respectively; and the error memory generator and the error generator of alley No. 2 are connected into the error computer 32 via contacts R-B114 and R-B11-5 respectively. The arrows on lines in FIGURE 3 connected to the above-mentioned contacts indicate connec-- tions to associated components for alley No. 2. Likewise, in FIGURE 5 the arrows on lines designated as f', g', h', and z", indicate connections to the appropriate control signal generator for alley No. 2. The appropriate control signal generator 26 (for alley No. 1, for purposes of discussion) is energized, then, in the manner previously described. The sequence of engagement of the various wipers with their respective contacts on the generators 14-22 and on the generator 26 is important and serves a purpose to be described.

In order to understand the operation of the system, the strike computer 28, spare computer 30, error computer 32 and master computer 38 must be considered together. Before this is done, however, some explanation should be given as to the mode of rotation of the various wipers associated with generators 14-22 and of the generator 26. The means for controlling the rotation of the individual wipers used in the pulse generator 12 is shown in FIGURE 6. A motor M is connected, by means known in the art, to the generators 1'4-.22 and the generator 26 to simultaneously rotate the wipers of these generators into engagement with their individualv contacts in the sequence previously described. The field and armature of the motor M is diagrammatically shown to be connected to a source of potential (24 volts) via either a normally opened switch S-C or the normally opened contacts R-V-l of a magnetic hold type relay R-V. The pulsing coil Rp-V for relay R-V is connected to a source of potential via a normally opened switch S-I. The switch S-I is located in the ball return rack or other appropriate place and is moved to a closed direction upon the return of the ball via the return rack. Upon thus closing momentarily the switch S-J, the pulse coil Rp-V is energized pulsing the contacts R-V-l to a closed position, thereby energizing the motor M causing it to rotate in a counterclockwise direction. Associated with the motor M is a cam member C which normally maintains theV switch S-C in the opened direction. However, upon rotation of the motor in a counterclockwise position, the cam C is rotated out of contact with switch S-C, thereby allowing that switch to close, providing then a second path for the potential to be connected to the motor M. Upon further rotation, the cam C closes a normally opened switch S-D, which is located in series with a source of potential and the reset coil Rr-V of relay R-V. With switch S-D closed, the reset coil Rr-V is energized, thereby returning the contacts R-V-l to the opened position. Further rotation of the cam C allows the switch S-D to open. The -motor M continues to rotate until the cam C once again engages the switch S-C moving that switch into the opened position, thereby completely deenergizing the motor M, causing the motor to stop rotation. Thus it can be seen that each time a ball is returned, the motor M of the pulse generator control circuit 24 is caused to -go throgh one complete, single rotation. Since one ball is returned for every ball thrown it can be stated in another way that the motor M in the pulse generator control 24 rotates the generators 14-22 and the generator 26 through a single rotation for each ball thrown down the alley.

As mentioned previously, a pulse generator control circuit 24 is provided for each of the generators 14-22 and the generator 26 located on alleys No. l and No. Z. Assuming then, that the proper set of computers 28-32 and master computer 38 have been selected and also that the proper pin-fall indicator and pulse generator 1 2 have been selected and that a ball has now been thrown down the alley, the pulse generator control 24 then causes the wipers associated with the generators 14-22 and with the generator 26 to rotate through a single revolution. Looking now to FIGURE 5, the wiper w associated with the control signal generator 26 first engages the contact e, thereby impressing a potential across a pulse coil Rp-E of a stepping relay R-E and thereby stepping the contacts R-E1 through R-E-12 to their next position.

Thus far it has been described how the pin-fall indicator 1t) provides a pair of signals to the various generators 114-22 of the pulse generator 12 and also that a pulse generator control 24 is operative in response to each thrown ball to activate the generators 14-22 and 26. It has also been described how the various computers 28-32 and 38 are selected by means of the computer selector 27. Thus, far, then, the information as to the number of pins knocked down has' been made available to the pulse generator 12; that information has also been made available to the selected set of cumputers 28-32. Before the actual interaction between the master computer 38 and the computers 28-32 is described, the individual functions of computers 28-32 should be discussed, keeping in mind the previous general discussion thereof.

`(t1) Strike computer.-As previously mentioned, the strike computer 28 (FIGURE 3) is connected to the Wiper of the strike generator 14 such that a pulse will be received for each energized contact of the strike generator 14 which the wiper thereof engages in its counterclock- Wise rotation. As previously described, the strike computer 28 allows the pulsed output from the strike generator 14 to be passed therethrough to the totalizing circuit 34 only one the next count after two strikes or more in sequence. Thus, in -other words, the strike computer 28 will provide an output of the pin count occurring on the next ball thrown after two strikes and if that ball happens to be a strike, then it will also provide an output on the next succeeding ball and if that ball happens to be a strike, then on the next succeeding ball, etc. The above is the only condition under which the strike computer 28 will transmit a signal. Note that there is provision such that any foul occurring on the first or second ball will be detected by the strike generator such as to prevent an erroneous output.

(2) Spare computor-The spare computor is connected to the wipers of both the spare memory generator 16 and the spare generator 18 such as to be able to selectively transmit the pulses as those wipers engage the energized ones of those decades of contacts associated therewith. It should be recalled that the spare memory generator 16 had its contacts energized responsively to the signals from the magnetic hold relays R-Cl through R-Clo while the decade of contacts on the spare generator 18 were energized responsively to the signals from the relays R-D1 through R-Dw. As previously discussed, the spare computor 28 will read or transmit the signal output from the spare generator 18 to the totalizing circuit 34 under the following conditi-ons: (l) if a strike has been registered, then the spare computor 30 will transmit the total pin count after the second ball thrown after the strike if the iirst ball thrown after the strike is not a strike; (2) if a strike has been registered, the spare computor 30 will read the pin count on the very next ball if the very next ball registers a strike; likewise, the spare computor 3i) will continue t-o read any strikes sequentially obtained thereafter; (3) if there has been a spare in the previous frame, the spare computor 30 Will transmit the pin count on the very next ball thrown; and (4) if a foul is registered on the sec-ond ball thrown, then the signal from the spare memory generator is substituted for the spare generator and the same operations as listed above in (1)-(3) occur through the spare computor 30.

(3) Error computor.-The error computor 32, it will be recalled, is pulsed by the error memory generator 20 and the error generator 22. As previously indicated, the contacts of the error memory generator 20 are energized by means of the magnetic hold relays R-Cl through R-Cm while contacts of the error generator 22 are energized by means of the coils R-Dl through R-Dlo. As previously discussed, the error computor 32 will transmit the pulses from the error generator 22 to the totalizing circuit 34 under the following conditions: (l) the pin count on the rst ball will be transmitted only if a strike is obtained on that ball; (2) the error computor 32 will always read or transmit the total pin count after the second ball in a frame; (3) in the case of a foul on the second ball of any frame, the error computor 32 will read or transmit the output from the error memory generator 20 in place of the error generator 22. Of course, if there is a foul on the first ball thrown, then the error computor 32 will not transmit the signals from the error generator 22.

The above information is then transmitted to the totalizing circuit 34 where the total output is then obtained in a manner to be described. Each pulse transmitted by the strike computor 28, the spare computor 30 or the error computor 32 represents a point in the scoring of the bowling game of that individual. Note that the total number of pulses thus transmitted by the computors 28- 32 may be greater than the number of total pins knocked down due to the method of scorekeeping associated with the bowling game.

(4) Strike, spare and error computors as controlled by the master co-mpuror.-In order to understand the exact operation of the computors 28-32 and 38, reference is made to FIGURES 3 and 5. As previously mentioned, after a ball is thrown the pulse generator control circuit 24 causes the generators 14-22 and 26 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction. Looking now to FIGURE 5, the iirst contact to be engaged by a wiper is the contact e associated with control signal generator 26. This energizes the pulsing coil Rp-E of a stepping relay R-E which is of a three-position type having ten poles or sets of contacts R-E-l through R-E-10. In the FIGURES 3 and 5 the various contacts are shown in their first or original position. Upon a rst energization of the pulsing coil Rp-E the contacts are moved to the mid position shown, while upon a subsequent energization of the pulsing coil Rp-E the contacts are moved to the last or bottom position shown. Considering now only the relationship of the control signal generator 26 with the strike generator 14, the energization of the coil Rp-E causes the contacts R-tE-l in the strike computor circuit 28 (FIGURE 3) to be moved to the mid position; however, at this time the pulses from the strike generator 14 as the associated wiper engages the decade of contacts about its periphery are not transmitted through the computor 28 since the circuit therethrough is still opened by virtue of the contacts R-F1 of stepping relay R-F being in the iirst position. Note that relay R-F is of the three-position type and is connected to relay R-E such that a circuit is closed therethrough only when the contacts R-F-l are in the last position. As the Wiper associated with the control signal generator 26 continues its counterclockwise rotation, it subsequently engages the contacts f, g, h and i. At this time, however, the wiper associated with the strike I3 generator 14 has already passed out of engagement with the decade of contacts disposed thereabout.

The contact f is electrically connected to the pulsing coil Rp-F of the stepping relay R-F via contac-ts R-M-S, a plurality of serially connected contacts R-D1-6 through lli-Duro (see FIGURE 7) and the contacts R-E-lt?. The contacts RM-5 are associated with a foul detecting relay and upon the perpetration of a foul would be in the open position, thereby deactuating this particular circuit. The contacts R-Dlthrough R-D10-6 are normally opened contacts associated with the relays R-Dl through R-Dw an-d are connected in series as shown in FIGURE 7 such that an electrical circuit will be made through these contacts only when all `of the pulsing coils RID-D1 through Rp-Dm have been energized as upon the completion of a strike or a spare. In that instance, all ofthe contacts R-D1-6 through RD106 are closed and a circuit is completed therethrough from contact f through the contacts R-E-lt) (not in the mid position due to the first pulsing of the relay Rp-E) and thence to the pulsing coil Rp-F. Energization of the pulsing coil Rp-F causes the contacts R-F-l (FIGURE 3) to be stepped to the second or mid position. If no strike is obtained, then the pulsing coil Rp-F is not energized and the contacts R-FJ; can never be pulsed to the next position, thus leaving the strike computor circuit 2S in a condition whereby it is unable to transmit the signal from the strike ygenerator 14 to the totalizing circuit 34. It will be subsequently seen thatA even when a spare is obtained thereby closing the circuit through serial contacts R-D1-6 through R-D10-6, the strike computor 28 cannot transmit to the totalizing circuit 34.

As the wiper w of the control signal generator 26 continues in a counterclockwise direction, it next engages the contact g and thereby connects 24 volts across the related circuit therein. Looking now to FIGURE 5, the contacts R-E-8 of step relay R-E in the circuit of contact g is in the mid position due to the energization of pulsing coil Rp-E. Assuming no foul has occurred, the foul contacts R-M-4 are in the position as shown therein. If a strike has occurred, the plurality of contacts R-D1-5 to R-Dm-S (FIGURE 8) which are operative in response to the energization of the pulsing coils Rp-Dl through Rp-Dw are closed. Since these contacts are serially connected, a circuit is then made thereacross. In closing the circuit, the reset coils Rr-Cl through Rr-Clo -for the relays R-Cl through R-Cw are energized thereby resetting the contacts associated with those coils. This, in essence then, erases the signal or the memory which would normally be held as a `result of the energization of the pulse coils RDC1 through R13-C10.

With the circuit of the contact g thus closed, a potential is impressed across the pulse coil Rp-X of a magnetic hold relay R-X (see FIGURE 5) thereby closing the normally opened contacts R-X-l. Other relays in the circuit associated with the contact g are also energized and will be described later.

As the wiper w of the cont-rol signal generator 26 continues in the counterclockwise direction, it engages the contact h. With the contacts R-X-1 in that circuit now in a closed position, the reset coil RI-E of relay R-E is energized, thereby returning the contacts associated with that stepping relay back to the initial position. The relay R-E, it `may be recalled, was stepped to the trst position in accordance with the energization of the pulsing coil Rp-E in circuit of the contact e.

As the wiper continues in the counterclockwise direction, it engages the contact i and energizes the reset coils RY-X and R,.-M in that circuit. By energizing the reset coil Rr-X, the contacts R-X-l of relay R-X are returned to the initial position; likewise, if necessary, the contacts associated with the -foul relay R-M are returned back to the initial position by means of the energization of the reset coil Rfk/l.

Furt-her rotation of wiper w is stopped in accordance with the means as shown i-n FIGURE 6 and as previously described. Looking now to FIGURES 3 and 5, and assuming that a rst ball has been thrown and that a strike has been obtained and that in the strike computer circuit 28 the contacts R-F1 are now in the mid position while the contacts R-E-1 are now inthe original position, after throwing the next ball the relay R-V is actuated as the pulsing coil Rp-V is energized placing the contacts R-V-l in the closed position causing the motor M to again rotate (FIGURE 6) in a counterclockwise direction. Note that the strike generator of the strike computor 28 did not transmit any information on the rst strike and this is in accordance wi-th the previous description of the function of this computor. Upon throwing a second ball, assuming now that this also results in a strike, the same sequence of operation as previously described occurs, except that now the contacts R-F-l of the relay R-F have been stepped to the last or third position; the strike computor 28, however, has still not been capable of transmitting any pin-fall information which is in accordance with the previous description of the circuit. Note that in the circuit of Contact g wit-h lthe contacts R-E-S in the mid position and with the contacts R-Dl-S through R-Dm-S all closed, the reset coils Rr-Cl through Rr-Cm return the relays R-C1 through R-Cm to the original position. Thus each time a strike is 4obtained no pin count is retained by these relays, which is in accordance with the operation as previously described.

Upon a throwing of another ball, the wiper w of the control signal generator 26 is again rotated in a counterclockwise direction and the same sequence of events, as previously described, is repeated. Note Ithat regardless of the pin-fall on this throw, the pulses provided by the strike generator 14 as the wiper w engages the decade of contacts thereon is transmitted through the strike computer 2.8 via the closed contacts R-B1-1, the now closed contacts RF1, the closed contacts R-E-l, the closed contacts R-M- and thence to the totalizing circuit 34 where a count is registered for each pulse from the strike generator 14, and hence -for every pin knocked down. Assuming that this throw also resulted in a. strike, the contacts R-F-l will remain in the bottom position while the contacts R-E-l will again be returned to the original position and the count on the next ball thrown will also be transmitted.

It shall be assumed now that only a partial count is obtained on that last ball thrown. In that case, no circuit can be completed from the contact f through the contacts R-Dl-o through R-Dwsince these contacts are serially connected and must all be closed. Thus the pulsing coil Rp-F of the erelay R-F cannot be energized. This effect is `of no significance since at this time the contacts R-F-l are still in the closed position.

`Looking now to the circuit associated with the contact g, the contacts R-E-S of stepping relay R-E are in the mid position; however, since the serially connected contacts R-El-S through R-Em-S are not all closed, no circuit is completed to the pulsing coil Rp-X of the relay R-X and hence the contacts R-X-l will remain opened. This means, then, that the reset coil Rr-E of the relay R-Eis not energized when the wiper engages the contact h, thus the contacts associated with t-he relay R-E will remain in the mid or second position. Looking now to the circuit associated with the contact i, the reset coils Rr-X and Rr-M 'for the relays R-X and R-M, respectively, are energized; however, assuming no foul has been committed, this does not alter the circuit situation since the contacts R-X-l have not been moved to the closed position. Thus it has been shown that on a partial score after two strikes, the pulses from the strike generator 14 will be transmitted through the strike computor 28 to the totalizing circuit 34.

Upon throwing another ball, the wiper w is again caused to rotate in a counterclockwise direction and en- 15 gages the contact e, energizing the pulse yrelay Rp-E of the relay R-E, thus causing the contacts R-E-l through R-E-10 `to be moved to the last or third position. By moving the contacts R-E-l -to the last position, it can be seen that the output from the strike generator 14 cannot be transmitted through the strike computor 28.

Looking now to the circuit associated with the contact f, the contacts R-E-9 are also in the last position, thus energizing the reset coil Rr-F of the relay RF causing the contacts R-F-1 to return to the original position. At the saine time, the pulsing coil Rp-F cannot be energized even if a spare has been thrown as the contacts R-E-10 are now in the third position. In the circuit of contact g, with the contacts R-E-8 in the last position, the pulsing coil Rp-X and reset coils Rr-Cl through Rr-Cm are energized. This provides that the relay R-E will be returned to its initial position by virtue of closed contacts R-X-l and energization of reset coil Rr-E; this also `provides that the first ball information retained by relays R-Cl through R-Cw is erased. Thus, the total count on this last ball thrown will not be counted by the strike generator 28, but the strike generator 28 will be returned to its original condition. It can be seen by looking at FIGURE 5, that the occurrence of a foul places the contacts R-M-4, R-M5 in a position such that the circuit is in the same condition as if the series contacts R-D1-5 through R-Dmand R-D1-6 through R-Dmwere opened. The foul relay contacts RM6 in the strike computer circuit 28 assure that there will be no readout `of a signal in the event a foul occurs on the first ball after two or more strikes in sequence. Thus it can be seen that the operation of the circuit 28 is in accordance with the desired operation as previously described.

FIGURES 3 and 5 are to be consulted in order to ascertain the specific mode of operation for the spare computer 30. As previously described, the only time when the spare memory generator 16 is in the circuit is after the occurrence of a foul, at which time the output from the spare memory generator 16 would be substituted for the output from the spare generator 18. Therefore, iirst the operation of the spare generator 18 in conjunction with the master computer 38 will be considered.

The wiper of the spare generator 18 is connected to the spare computer 30 via the closed contacts R-B1-3 of the relay R-B (FIGURE 3). Assuming now that a ball has been thrown and the wiper w on the control signal generator 26 is rotating in a counterclockwise direction, the contact e is first engaged, energizing the pulsing coil Rp-E of the relay RE, causing the contacts R-E-3 to be stepped to the mid or intermediate position. As the Wiper of the spare generator continues in rotation, it engages the associated contacts; however, as can be seen from FIGURE 3, there is no circuit at this time which is closed to allow the transmission of the pulsations from the spare generator 18 to the totalizing circuit 34.

Assuming now that a strike has been thrown on the first ball, as the wiper w engages the contact f, the pulsing coil Rp-F of the relay R-F is energized, since the circuit through the contacts R-Elthrough R-E-6 is closed, thereby stepping the contacts R-F-2 of that relay to its mid position (FIGURE 3). Likewise, the contacts R-E- 9 are in the second or mid position, thereby energizing the reset coil Rr-I of a magnetic hold type relay R-J, thereby maintaining the contacts R-J-l (FIGURE 3) in the position as shown therein. As the wiper w continues and engages the contact g, a circuit is completed through the contacts R-E-S, in the mid position, through the serially -connected contacts R-D1-5 through R-Dw-S, thereby energizing the pulsing coil Rp-X of the relay R-X, this moves the contacts R-X-l to its closed position. At the same time, of course, the reset coils Rr-Cl through Rr-Clo are energized, thereby resetting the contacts associated with the hold relays R-Cl through R-Cm. As the wiper w then proceeds in a counterclockwise direction and engages .the contact Iz, the reset coil Rr-E is ener- I6 gized, thereby `resetting the contacts R-E-3 associated with the relay R-E. Thus the only change occurring in the circuit noW is in the fact that the contacts R-F-Z of the relay R-F are now in the mid position as shown in FIG- URE 3.

Assuming now that a strike is obtained on the next ball thrown, the wiper w of the control sign-al generator 26 rst engages the contact e, thereby energizing the pulsing relay Rp-E, moving its contacts to the mid or second position. Note that, at the same time, the serially connected contacts RD12 through R-Dm-Z (FIGURE 3) of relays R-Dl through R-Dlo provide a closed circuit, since all of the pins have been knocked down and the coils Rp-Dl through Rp-Dlo have been energized. As the wiper of the spare generator 18 engages each of the decade of contacts associated therewith, this signal is transmitted to the totalizing circuit 34 via the closed contacts R-F-2, R-E-S and R-D1-2 through R-Dw-Z. As the wiper w continues to rotate it energizes the circuit of contact f and hence the pulse coil Rp-F via the closed serial contacts R-D1-6 through ReD10-6 and contacts R-E-lti in the mid or second position. This places the contacts R-F-2 in the third position, which is identical to the second position (FIGURE 3). The reset coil Rr-I of a magnetic hold type relay R-I is also energized from the contact f via contacts R-E-9 in the mid position. This has no eiect on the circuit, since the associated contacts R-I-l have as yet not been moved from their original opened position. As the wiper w engages the contact g with the contacts R-E-S in the mid position, a circuitis then closed via the closed serially connected contacts R-D1-5 through R-D10-5 to the various coils associated therewith such that the pulsing coil Rp-X is energized, causing the contacts R-X-1 to be moved to the closed position. As the wiper w continues to the contact h the reset coil Rr-E of the relay R-E is energized, causing the contacts associated therewith to be moved back to their original positions. As the wiper w engages the contact i, the reset coil Rr-X is energized, thereby causing the contacts R-X-l to be moved back to the open or original position. As long as strikes are being thrown, the contacts R-E-3 will be continued to be reset to the original position, thereby leaving the contacts R-F2 in either the second or third of its three possible positions, thereby allowing the pin count to be continued to be registered in the manner as described. Thus the spare computer 38 is placed in a position to again transmit the pin count to the pin totalizing circuit 34 if another strike is obtained on the next ball. Thus the spare computer 3Q fulfills the one mode of operation previously described.

Assume now that on the very next ball only a portion of the pins are knocked down. As the wiper w of the control signal generator 26 is caused to rotate again in a counterclockwise direction it rst engages the contact e, thereby energizing the pulsing coil Rp-E causing the contacts R-E-3, R-E-S, R-E-9 and R-E-lt) to be moved to their second or intermediate position. Next in time, the wiper associated with the spare generator 18 engages the decade of contacts associated therewith; however, n0 signal is transmitted to the totalizing circuit 34 since the contacts R-J-l are in the opened condition and while the contacts R-F-Z are closed, as well as the contacts R-E-3, no signal is transmitted since the circuit R-D1-2 through R-Dl-10 is opened. As the wiper w of the control signal generator 26 continues in a counterclockwise direction, the contact f is then engaged. The reset coil Rr-I is energized but does not change the circuit, since the contacts R-I-l are still in the original opened position. Since a circuit is not completed through the serial contacts R-Dlthrough R-DlO-G, the pulsing coil Rp-F is not energized, thus leaving the contacts R-F-2 in the closed position. As the wiper w engages the contact g, no circuit is completed since the plurality of serially connected contacts R-X-l in the opened position, thereby preventing energization of the reset coil Rr-E as the wiper w engages the contact h. On engaging the contact z', the reset coil Rr-X `associated with the relay R-X is energized; the circuit is not altered since the contacts R-X-.l are already in the original position. Assuming now that the next ball is thrown, again the wiper on the control signal generator 26 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction and engages the contact e to energize the pulsing relay Rp-E. This causes the contacts R-E-S, R-E-S, R-E-9 and R-E-10 to be moved to their last or third positions. At the same time the contact R-F-2 is in the closed position shown; thus as the wiper associated with the spare generator 18 engages the decade of contacts disposed thereabout, the signals obtained therefrom will be transmitted through the spare computor 30 to the totalizer circuit 34. Assuming that not all the pins were knocked down by the second ball thrown after the strike, the` con tacts R-E-ltl (FIGURE 5), are in the third position; however, a circuit is not completed through the pulsing coil Rp-I sincethe serially connected contacts-R'D16 through R-D-6 are not closed. However, with contacts R-E-9 in the third position, reset coil Rr-F is energized, returning contacts R-F-2 back to their original position. As the wiper w engages the contact g a circuit is completed through contacts R-E-S in the third position to the various coils including pulsing coils RIJ-X, thus closing the contacts RX-1. As the wiper w* engages contact l1, reset coil Rr-E is energized, moving the contacts of relay R-E back to the original position. The spare computer 30 is in condition now to start a new sequence. Thus the spare computer 30 performs the function previously described.

Y Assume now that on the last ball thrown in the previously described sequence the remainder of the pins were knocked down and a spare was obtained. The condition of spare computer 30 would be exactly the same as just described save that a circuit would be completed to pulsing coil Rp-J. Thus the contacts R-I-l would be moved to the closed position. Assume now that a ball is thrown initiating the next frame, the wiper w of the control signal generator 26 engages the contact e, thereby energizing the pulsing coil Rp-E, moving the related contacts to their mid position. As the wiper associated with the spare generator 18 engages the decade of contacts associated therewith, these pulses are transmitted to the totalizing circuit 34 via the closed contacts R-J-l. As the wiper w engages the contact f, the reset coil Rr-J is energized via the contacts R-E-9 being in the mid position and the contacts R-J-1 are moved to the open position. Note that in the last sequence of operation it has been shown that the spare computor 30 will in fact fulll another mode of operation and transmit the pin count on the next ball immediately following the attainment of a spare.

If there is a foul on a irst ball in any frame, the spare computer 30 will be rendered ineffective to transmit a signal therefrom by virtue of the contacts R-M1 being moved to an alternate position as shown in FIGURE 3 and also by virtue of :a movement of the contacts R-M-4 and R-M-S to their opened positions. Looking at FIG- URE 3, it can be'seen that with the throwing of a foul on the first ball, the contact R-J-l will be in the opened position as shown, and thence, the moving of the cont-act R-M-l to the alternate position as shown in FIGURE 3 would render the spare generator ineffective to transmit a signal. It can also be seen that the spare memory generator 16 is incapable of transmitting a signal through the spare computor 30, since, on the throwing of the first ball, the contacts R-E-Z would be only in the mid or second position shown and no circuit would be completed to the spare computor 30. However, as previously described, when there is a foul on the second ball it is desired that the total legitimate pin count for the two balls thrown should be transmitted to the totalizing circuit 34 under the appropriate conditions. This, in eifect,

Vpin-fall obtained on the rst ball.

would be the total pin count obtained only on the first ball since any additional pin count obtained thereby would be negated by the fact that it was obtained while the bowler had fouled. Thus, this would occur only on a second ball. Looking now to the circuits in FIGURES 3 and 5, it can be realized that after a rst ball has been thrown in which a partial knockdown is rendered, the contacts R-E-2 will be in the mid or second position as shown in FIGURE 3. As noted before, the total pin-fall on two successive balls, the rst of which is not a strike, is to be transmitted to the totalizing circuit 34 only if immediately following a strike. With a strike having been attained, the contacts R-F-Z :are in the closed position and contacts R-Ee3 and R-I-l are opened (FIG- URE 3). After throwing the next ball, not a-strike, the contacts R-E-Z and R-E-3 are in the mid position and the remainder of the spare computer circuit 30 of FIG- URE 3 is unchanged; the sequence of operation up to this point has been previously described. Thus with the contacts R-E-Z in the second or mid position, assume now that a second ball is shown and also assume now that the ,bowler has fouled in so throwing the ball. As the wiper w on the control signal generator 26 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction it first engages the contact e, thus energizing the pulsing coil Rp-E thus causing the contacts R-E-Z and contacts R-E-3 to be moved to their third or last position, as shown in FIGURE 3. As the wiper for the spare generator 18 is rotated to engage the decade of contacts associated therewith, the signal is blocked from being transmitted to the totalizing circuit 34 by virtue of the fact of the contacts R-M-l of the foul relay R-M being in the alternate position as shown in FIGURE 3. However, as the wiper on the spare memory generator ,16 is rotated into engagement with the decade of contacts associated therewith, the pin count thereon is then transmitted to the totalizing circuit 34 via the contacts RE-2, the contacts R-M1, the contacts R-F-Z and R-E-3. Thus the other condition attributed to the spare computer 30 is fulfilled in that, if a foul is committed on the second ball, then the signal from the spare memory generator 16 is substituted for that from the spare generator 18 and the same operation as mentioned above will then transpire. Note that the signal appearing on the spare memory generator 16 is that signal which has been retained by the contacts R-C1-1 through R-Cm- 1 `as a result of the energization of the pulsing coils Rp-Cl through Rp-C10. Note also that the contacts R-E-11 (FIGURES 2 and 9) lbeing either in the second or third position render the pulsing coils Rp-Cl through Rp-Cm inoperative to detect the pin-fall occurring on the second ball; thus it will maintain in memory only the (The circuitryof FIG- URE 9 is connected to the circuit of FIGURE 2 and hence is associated only with alley No. 1. Thus only contact R-B117 is closed by virtue of closing switch S-B1 for bowler No. 1 and hence pulsing coils Rp-Cl through Rp-Cm are actuable only through contacts R-E11.) It can be seen from the above description that the spare computer 30 operates in the desired manner as previously described. It lalso can be seen by an analysis of the above discussion that the spare computer 30 will not operate under any other conditions except those enumerated.

The next circuit to be considered -is the error computor 32. As previously mentioned, the error generator 22 will provide the signal for the error computor 32, except when a foul is committed, and in the latter condition, if a foul occurs on the second ball, the error memory generator 20 will provide the signal instead. Looking now to FIG- URES 3 and 5, upon the throwing of a rst ball, the wiper w on the control generator 26 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, thereby engaging the Contact e energizing the pulse coil Rp-E. This, then, causes the contacts R-E-S, R-E-S, R-E-9 and R-E-10 to be moved to the mid or second position, as shown. Assuming now that a strike is obtained on the first ball, as the wiperon the error generator 22 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction and engages the decade of contacts thereon, the signal obtained therefrom is transmitted to the totalizing circuit 34 by virtue of the fact that the plurality of serially connected contacts R-D1-3 through R-DlO-S (see FIGURE are closed and provide a circuit therethrough. Upon further counterclockwise rotation of the wiper w of the control signal generator 26, the contacts of relay R-E including R-E-S, are returned to their original position in a manner as previously described, by virtue of the strike. Thus the error computor 32 performs its first function in reading a strike on the first ball.

Assuming now that a strike is not obtained on the first ball, but rather only a partial count, then with the contacts R-E-S in the second or mid position (FIGURE 3), no circuit is closed to the totalizing circuit 34, since no circuit is completed through the serially connected contacts R-D1-3 through R-D10-3. Since none of the circuits connected with the contact f are associated with the error generator 22, the effect of these circuits will not be considered. Upon engagement of the wiper w with the contact g, no circuit is completed -to the pulsing coil Rp-X since no circuit is completed through the serially connected contacts R-Dl-S through R-D10-5. Thus the contacts R-X-,llare maintained in the opened position, and hence, as the wiper w engages the contact h, no potential can be impressed across reset coil RY-E, thus leaving the contacts associated with the relay R-E in the second or mid position. The Wiper w, in engaging the contact z', is ineffectual to change any of the circuitry as previously described. Upon throwing a second ball, the effect is the same; whether all the pins are knocked down or a partial score obtained is incidental. Looking now to FIGURE 5, as the wiper w of the control signal generator 26 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, it first engages the contact e, thereby energizing the pulse coil Rp-E, thereby moving the contacts R-E-S, R-E-S, R-E-9 and R-E-10 to the third or last position. As the wiper associated with the error generator 22 continues in a counterclockwise direction and engages the decade of contacts associated therewith, the pin count thereon is transmitted to the totalizing circuit 34 by virtue of the circuit maintained through the contacts R-E-5, as shown in FIGURE 3. As the Wiper w continues, it engages the contact f which again does not affect the error generator 22. Next the wiper w engages the contact g, whereupon a circuit is then closed across they pulsing coil Rp-X moving the contacts R-X-l to the closed position such that upon engagement of the wiper w with the contact h, the reset coil Rr-E of the relay R-E is energized, thereby moving the contacts associated therewith back to the original position. This then places the error generator 22 back in its original situation.

Looking to FIGURE 3, it can be seen that if a foul occurs on the first ball regardless of whether the pin count is a strike or a partial score, the error generator 22 and the error memory generator 20 are ineffective to transmit information to the totalizing circuit 34, since the contacts R-E-4 would be in the mid or second position and no circuit could be completed from the error memory generator to the totalizing circuit 34 and at the same time the contacts R-M-2 of the foul relay R-M would be in the alternate position shown in FIGURE 3, thereby opening the circuit from the error generator 22 to the totalizing circuit 34. However, assuming the situation in which a partial pin count has been obtained on the first ball, and a foul is committed on the second ball, then as previously mentioned, the output from the error memory generator 20 is substituted for the error generator 22. Looking now to FIGURE 5, as the wiper w of the control signal generator 26 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, it first engages the Contact e, thereby energizing the pulse coil Rp-E, thereby moving the contacts R-E-4, R-E-5, R-E-S, R-E-9 and R-E-lfi to the third or last position as shown. At the same time, the

contacts R-M-Z have been moved to the alternate position as shown in FIGURE 3. Thus, as the wiper associated with the error memory generator 20' sweeps in a counterclockwise direction and engages the decade of contacts associated therewith, the pin count from the first ball is transmitted to the totalizing circuit 34 via the contacts R-E-4, R-M-2 and R-E-S.

Thus it can be seen that the error computer circuit 32 operates in the manner as described and under no other circumstances will information be transmitted to the totaling circuit 34.

Note that the plurality of relays in the computers 28- 32 and in the computer 38 have their contacts moved to opened and closed positions while under no load. This facilitates long life and hence reliability for the various relays there utilized. Note also that the decades of contacts in the various generators 14-22 are shown on separate members, each contacted by a separate wiper; it can be appreciated that all of the decades of contacts, if placed in proper phase relation with each other, could be disposed about a single member and contacted by a single wiper which would then feed the information to the -computer means comprising the computers 28-32.

(E) T otalzng circuzt.-The totalizing circuit 34 could 'be constructed to simply display the total current score at that time. However, it is desirable and advantageous in a bowling game to be able to display the score on a per frame basis such that a bowler could review the score attained at each individual frame. This result is provided by the circuitry as shown in FIGURE 13. A step relay R-N is connected to read the output from the strike computer 28; another step relay R-P is connected to transmit the output from the spare computerl 30; and a third stepping relay R-S is connected to transmit the signal output from the error computer 32A (See FIGURES 3 and 13.) Each of the stepping relays is of the twelve-step or twelve-contact type and is connected in the manner shown in FIGURE 13 and to be described. Connected to the contacts in the step relays are pulsing coils Cp-l through Cp-l, each of which is related to an individual counter 'C-l through C-10'. Each counter indicates the total score attained for a given frame in a manner to be described. The contacts of the stepping relays R-N, R-P and R-S are all normally closed with the various sets of contacts being connected parallelly to the output of the associated computer 28-32 with which they are individual. The stepping relays R-N, R-P, R-S are stepped through a sequence such that after the first step, all the No. 1 contacts are opened, after the second step, all the No. 2 contacts are opened, after the third step, all the No. 3 contacts are opened.

As shown in FIGURE 13, in the relay R-N the contacts R-N-IZ through R-N-3 are .connected to the pulsing coils Cpthrough Cp-ltl, respectively, such that the output from the strike computer 28 is transmittable to those counters C1, through C10 whose respective contacts are closed. The relay R-P has its contacts R-P-I, through R-P-Z connected to the pulsing coils Cp-I through Cp-IO, respectively. In the stepping relay R-S, the contacts R-S-lt) through R-S-l are connected to the pulsing coils Cp-l through Cp-10, respectively. The relays R-N, R-P and R5 are all stepped together by means of the pulsing coils Rp-N, Rp-P and Rp-S, respectively, which are connected in the circuit associated with contact g of the control signal generator 26` shown in FIGURE 5. Thus the latter relays will be stepped under those conditions either in which the contacts R-E-S are in the second positon and a strike has been obtained such as to cause the serially connected contacts R-Dl-S through R-Dw-S to be closed, thereby allowing a circuit to be closed across the pulsing coils Rp-N, Rp-P and Rp-S, or when the contacts R-E-S are in the third or last position, thereby automatically allowing the energization of pulsing coils Rp-N, Rp-P and Rp-S. It can be seen then, that this provides a pulsation or a stepping of the relays R-N, R-P and R-S at the conclusion of each frame, i.e. if a strike is obtained, the contacts R-E-S are in the mid positon, this is the end of the frame and the pulsing coils are energized according-ly; on the other hand, if a strike is not obtained on the rst ball, a second ball is required to be thrown whereby the contacts R-E-S are placed in the third or last position shown in FIGURE and hence the pulsing coils are energized again to step'the relays RN, R-P and R-S.

In operation, if a strike is obtained on the first ball in the first frame, an output will be obtained from the error generator 22 and this will be transmitted via the contacts R-S1 through R-S-ltl of the relay R-S to each of the pulsing coils Cp-l through C13-10 registering thereupon the pin count or ten pins. Note that at this time there is no signal output from either the strike computer 28 or the spare computor 30. At the same time, however, relays R-N, R-P and R-S are stepped such that now contacts RNL RPl, R-S1 are no longer closed. This results in the pulsing coil Cp-lt), which represents the score for the first frame, being disconne-cted from receiving any further indication from the error computer 32. If a strike is obtained in the next frame, the output from error computer 32 will be indicated in the frames two through ten, since only the pulsing relays Cp-l through Cp-9 are in a condition to receive this signal through the relay R-S. As previously discussed, the space computer 30 will also cornmunicate the strike indication to the relay R-P and provide this reading in all of the frames one through ten by virtue of the energization of the pulsing coils Cp-l through Cp-lt). It can be seen then, that since the individual decades of contact of the individual generators 14-22 are staggered, more than one of these generators can provide a signal indication to the totalizing circuit 34 for one revolution of the associated wiper as provided by the pulse generator control 24. Note that at this time all of the computors will be reading the total pin fall of twenty pins. Assuming now that in the third frame a third strike is rolled, then the error computor 32 will provide this indication to the counters Cp-l through Cp-S (frames three through ten) via the relay R-S while the pin fall will also be indicated from the spare computor 30 tothe counters associated with the pulsing coils Cp-l through Cp-9 (frames two through ten) via the relay R-P and the strike computor 28 will transmit this pin count, in accordance with the previous description, to all of the coils Cpel through Cp-10 (frames one through ten).v

It can be seen then that after three strikes and three frames, the pin count indication of frame No. 1 will be 30; the pin count indication of frame No. 2 will be 50; and the pin count indication of all the frames thereafter will be 60. As previously described, after two strikes in succession if a partial count is obtained upon .the next ball thrown, neither the error computor 32 nor the spare computor 30 will transmit a signal to the totalizing circuit 34. However, the strike computor 28 will transmit a reading to the counters associated with the pulsing coils Cp-l through Cp-9 (frames two through ten) since it still would be connected to all of those coils. This then would provide in the second frame a total score including the score in the first frame and including the count on the two strikes plus the first ball thereafter, which is in accordance with proper bowling scoring.

Considering now a situation in which only partial scores are obtained, no score would be provided in the first frame by the strike computor 28, since that provides an output only on the next count after two strikes or more in sequence. So, for any sequence of only partial scores or if only spares are obtained or if only single strikes are obtained, no output will be added to the counters from the strike computor 28. Likewise, if a 22 partial score is obtained, assuming it to be in the first frame, then the spare computor 30, in operating in the manner previously described, will not provide an output to the counters C-l through C-ltl. Thus the output transmitted to the first frame will be only from the error computor 32 `and will appear thence in the counter C-l via the pulsing coil Cl-ltl. Note that after this score lhas been registered, the relays R-N and R-P are still in a position whereby the pulsing coil Cp-lt) of counter C10` for the first frame is connected thereto. However, it is impossible to energize this coil, since the strike computor 28 will be able to register only after two strikes in a row have been obtained (or after two more frames have been completed) and since at that time two additional steps will have lbeen taken by the step relay R-N, opening the contacts R-N-l through R-N-3. Likewise, the spare computor 3i) will be unable to affect the pin total presented in the first frame counter C-Iltl via the pulsing coil Cp-lfi, since the output from the spare computor Si) is always delayed one frame (as previously described) and at that time the contact-s R-P- and R-P2 would be opened. Thus the only output capable of being transmitted into the counter C-l0 for the rst frame would be that as obtained from the error computor 32.

If a spare is obtained in the first frame, this count will be read into the counters C-l through @-10 from the error computor 32 via the stepping relay R-S. Added to that total in counters C-10 in the first frame (also, of course, to the counters C-9 through C-l of frames two through ten) will be the pin fall on the very next ball in the next frame via the spare computor 30 since, at that time, the contact R-P-2 is still connected to the pulsing coil (2p-l@ for the counter of the first frame. The total count after the second ball will not be indicated by the spare computor 36; the total pin count obtained by the two balls being thrown will be then registered in the counters C-1 through C-9 for frames two through ten via the stepping relay R-S by virtue of the signal from the error computor 32. Thus the frame-by-frame score is kept in accordance with bowling procedure.

In the event of a strike in the first frame, the pin count then will be registered upon the counter C40 for the first frame (also upon counters C-l through C-ll0 for the remaining frames) via a signal from the error computor 32 through the stepping relay R-S. If a partial score is obtained on the next ball, none of the counters C-ll through C-10 will change their readings, since the computors 28 through 32, in accordance with the pre- Vious discussion, will not transmit a signal. However, upon a throwing of the second ball in that frame, the spare computer 3@ will transmit the total pin count to all of the counters Cl through C-ltl, thereby indicating that count in every frame. The same count will be subsequently transmitted to the pulsing coils Cp-9 through Cp-l for counters C-9 through C-l for the frames two through nine by virtue of the signal from the error computer 32 via the stepping relay RS. Thus, in a situation in which la strike is obtained in the first frame, the total count for the next two balls in the next frame is added to appear in the first frame total and in which the total count from these two balls is also added to the total of the first frame to appear in the second frame.

While the above sequence of scoring and indicating was discussed primarily with occurrences in the first few frames, it can be appreciated that the above operation is identical, regardless of the frame. Thus, then, it can be seen that the totalizing circuit 34 has a display means which operates in accordance with the manner previously described and which makes available to the individual bowler a continuous presentation of the score obtained at each frame.

Since only ten counters C-1 through C-l are provided, all of the tenth frame information, including the pin account obtained on the last one or two balls available, is recorded on the tenth trame counter C-l.

(F) Strike, Spare, and frame indicaron-Information from the master computor 38 is also used to provide the signals to the strike, spare and frame indicator 42 (FiG- URES 1 and 5 whereby this information can be registered. As noted in the above discussion, the score is indicated on a per frame basis. In doing this, the pulsing coils Cp-l through Cp-l of counters C-1 through C-l@ are connected such that the score obtained in the first frame is registered and recorded in the remainder of the lcounters for frames two through nine; likewise, the total score obtained as of the second frame is recorded in the remainder of the frames three through nine. In order to avoid confusion in the scoring, the various frames are rnade visible sequentially one at a time as the bowler bowls in that frame. Once the score in that frame has been made visible it is maintained visible until the end of the game. Thus a bowler who has just completed bowling in frames I, 2 and 3 will be able to see the results as recorded in frames 1, 2 and 3 only, and the score as recorded by the counters associated with the frames 4 through 10 would not be visible.

At the same time, while a per fname score indication is provided, there is also provided in each frame an indication of the attainment of either a strike or a spare.

Looking now to FIGURE 5, a strike indicator 6i) is shown in conjunction with a spare indicator 62 and a frame indicator 64. The strike indicator 60 has a stepping relay R-H having twelve lpositions, one for each of the -ten frames in which a single strike is possible, plus two additional positions (three altogether) for the tenth frame to accommodate a bowling-out condition. The spare indicator 62 has a stepping relay R-L which is provided with eleven positions in order to account for the possibility of obtaining a spare in each trarne plus the possibility of knocking down all the pins with two balls at the end of the game, if a strike has been obtained in the tenth frame. The frame indicating circuit 64 has a stepping relay R-T having ten positions in which to indicate each of the ten frames.

Looking now at the strike indicator 62, the stepping relay R-H is serially connected to a pair of normally opened contacts R-G-l of a relay R-G having a pulsing coil Rp-G. The relay R-G is of the standard single coil opened or closed type. The pulsing coil Rp-G is in the circuit connected with the contact f of the control signal generator 26 while the pulsing coil for the stepping relay R-H has a pulsing coil Rp-H which is connected in the circuit of the contact g of the control signal generator 26. Each of the twelve contacts of the stepping relay R-H has identical parallelly connected circuits. For example, the contacts R-H-l of the stepping relay R-H are connected to a source of potential (24 volts) via the normally open contacts R-G-1. In series with the contacts R-H-l is a remote reset indicator type circuit breaker L-ZS which comprises a filament F-ll and -a bimetallic thermal type switch T-l. Connected in parallel with the contact RH1 is a resistor R-l which is connected directly to the source of potential (24 volts). The other end of the breaker L-25 is connected to ground. With the contacts R-G-l in the opened position as shown in FIGURE 5, the only circuit maintained is through the resistor R-l and the normally closed thermal contactT-1 thence to ground. With the normally closed thermal contact T-1 shunting the filament F-l of the associated light, substantially no current passes through the filament F-l, hence causing the light associated therewith to be maintained off. The small amount of current passing through the resistor R-l and the thermal switch T-1 is not suicient to cause the thermal switch T-l to open, hence this maintains the ilament F-l in an off condition. However, when the contacts R-G-l are moved to a closed position and the resistor R-I is shunted out of the circuit, a considerable 24 amount of current is caused then to pass through the thermal switch T-1, causing that switch to generate suflicient heat to open, thereby allowing current then to pass though the tilament F-I. The filament current allows the filament to generate suilicient heat to keep the thermal switch T-ll in the opened position such that even when the contacts R-G-l are subsequently opened, sufcient current is passed through the filament F-l via the resistor R-l to maintain the associated lamp lit and to generate suicient heat to keep the thermal switch T-1 opened. Thus, whether or not a strike is recorded in a particular frame is dependent upon the condition of the contacts R-G-l for the frame position in which the stepping relay R-H happens to be at that particular time. Looking now to the circuit associated with the contact f, it `can be seen that the pulsing coil Rp-G of the relay R-G is energized when the contacts R-E-10 are in the mid or in the second position as shown in FIGURE 5. This occurs,` of course, any time after a iirst lball has been thrown; thus, when the serially connected relays R-D1-6 through R-D10-6 are all in the closed position, as with a strike, then with the contacts R-E-'llt in the second or mid position, the pulsing coil Rp-G 1s energized closing the contact R-G-l causing the filament F-l of the associated light to be lit providing an indication of a strike upon the score board. It can be seen that this process will occur on the rst ball thrown in any given frame when a strike is obtained thereupon. If all the pins are knocked down in a given frame as a result of the rolling of two balls, the serially connected contacts R-Dlthrough R-D106 will be closed but the contacts R-E-I will be in the third or last position as shown in FIGURE 5, hence preventing the pulsing coil Rp-G from being energized and preventing the indication of a strike upon the score board.

Looking now to the spare indicator 62, essentially the same type of circuitry for each contact of the stepping relay R-L is provided as described in conjunction with the strike indicator circuit 60. The main distinction, however, is that the laments associated at the individual circuits of the spare circuit 62 are energized only when the normally opened contacts R-K-l of relay R-K are moved to the closed position (FIGURE 5), relay R-K is of the standard single coil closed or opened type and has a pulsing coil Rp-K located in the circuitry associated with the contact f of the control signal generator 26. In order for the pulsing coil Rp-K to be energized, it is required that contacts R-E-lt) be in the third or last position as shown in FIGURE 5, and also that all of the pins be knocked down and that a circuit be closed through the serially connected contacts R-D1-6 through R-Dmby virtue of ya spare. Thus energiza-l tion of the pulsing coil Rp-K can only occur after a second ball has been thrown and only if all of the pins have been knocked down; i.e., throwing of the iirst ball would place the contacts R-E-ltl only in the second position and unless all the pins were knocked down the circuit through the serially connected contacts RD1-6 through R-DlO- would be opened. Similar to the operlation ot the contact R-G-l, the contacts RK-1 are only momentarily energized as the wiper associated with the control signal generator 26 engages the contact f. Once this engagement ceases, the pulsing coil Rp-K is again de-energized and the contacts R-K-1 returned to the opened position. However, the light associated with the circuit breaker remains in the lighted condition in accordance with the previous discussion, thus indicating that a spare has been made.

The stepping of the relay R-H to sequentially close the contacts R-H-1 through R-H-12 is accomplished lby means of the energization of the pulsing coil Rp-H which is located in the circuitry connected to the contact g of the control signal generator 26. This circuit was energized at the conclusion of each frame in accordance with the previous discussion. Thus, if a strike is obtained on a rst ball, the contacts R-E8 are in the second position as shown in FIGURE 5, and the serially connected contacts R-Dl-S through R-Dm-S are closed; this is then the end of that frame and the pulsing coil Rp-H is energized, moving the relay R-I-I to the second contact R-H-Z of the strike indicator to the next frame. If a strike is not obtained on the first ball, no stepping occurs, however, regardless of what is obtained on the second ball, the contacts R-E-S are moved to the third or last position (FIGURE hence automatically energizing the pulsing coil Rp-H stepping the relay R-H to the next position. The spare stepping relay R-L is stepped in a manner simil-ar to that as described above with reference to the relay R-H.

Looking now to the frame indicator circuit 64, identical circuit is provided for each of normally opened ten contacts, R-T-l through R-T- and comprises lights L-49 through 1:58, each serially connected to a source of potential via that one of the contacts with which it is individual. The pulsing coil Rp-T for the stepping relay R-T is disposed in the circuit associated with the contact g .of control signal generator 26 along with the pulsing coils Rp-H and Rp-L associated with the stepping relays R-H and RL. As the relay R-T is stepped through the decade of contacts R-D-l through R-T-l() a circuit is closed to the light associated therewith, thereby lighting up that frame allowing the indication on the counter associated therewith. The contacts of the relay R-T are normally opened but once closed remain such until the relay R-T is reset by energization of the reset coil Rr-T. Thus the lights remain in a lighted condition thereby allowing a per frame indication of the score.

(G) Bowl-select indication-As noted in the previous discussion with reference tothe operation of the computer selector 26, it was indicated that each bowler prior to bowling would select his individual computer on that alley on which he was bowling. It is desirable, however, thatA there be some visual means of reminding each bowler that he should so select. This, of course, should occur after the previous bowler has finished in his particular frame. Hence, looking now to FIGURES 4 and 5, a select bowl relay R-A having a pair of contacts R-A1-1 is shown in FIGURE 4 in the select position. Upon the closing of the appropriate ones of the switches S-B1 through S`-B10, the pulsin-g coil Rp-Al is energized, thereby moving the contacts R-A11 to the alternate position shown in FIGURE 4. This then connects a light L-3 to a source of potential (24 Volts) whereby a bowl indication is lit up and made visually discernible to the bowler. This then tells the bowler that he has in fact selected his computers and that he can now proceed to bowl. Looking now to FIGURE 5, the reset coil Rr-Al for the relay R-A1 is connected in the circuit |associated with contact g of the control signal generator 26 and is energized at the completion of a frame, i.e. either when the contacts R-E-S are in the 4mid or second position and a strike has been obtained thus closing the circuit to the serially connected contacts R-D15 through R-D10-5, or when, after two balls have been thrown in a frame, the relay R-E-8 is in the third or the last position as shown in FIGURE 5. Thus at that time, then, the contacts R-Al-l are in the position (FIGURE 4) energizing the light L-1 which then provides a visual indication of the word selec thereby indicating to the next bowler that he should select his computors or close the appropriate switch in the com-putor selector circuit 27. The contacts R-A2-1 and lights L-2, I.-4 perform a similar function for alley No. 2.

(H) Mark camicia-In the course of league bowling it is also customary that marks which constitute a spare or strike be counted. Looking now to FIGURE 1l, normally opened switch S-El is serially connected to a pulsing coil Cp-llll for a counter C-101 and thence to a source of potential (24 volts) and a similar type normally opened switch S-Ez is serially connected to a pulsing coil Cp-102 for another counter C-102 and thence to a source of potential. On closing either of the switches S-El or S-EZ, the appropriate pulsing coil is energized, thereby provid'- ing a numeral indication on the counter. Thus one of the counters would be used to tabulate the marks of one team and the other counter for the other team. The reset coils Cr-ltll and Cr-102 for the counters C-101 and C-102, respectively, can be energized by closing the normally opened switch S-F1, thereby resetting these counters back to zero.

(I) Game reset.-At the conclusion of the game, in 0rder to prepare the computers for the next game, a normally opened switch S-Gl (FIGURE l2) is closed, thereby energizing the reset coils Cr-l through Cr-ltl of the counters C-1 through C401, the reset coils RrdE, Rr-J, Rr-F, Rr-H, Rr-L, Rr-T, Rr-N, Rr-P, Rr-S in each of the computer circuits. Thus, then the various circuits are returned to a position in which new games can then be started and recorded.

The above preferred embodiment has been disclosed as a relay system; it can be appreciated that the concepts of the system as set forth could also be constructed in a vacuum tube, transistorized, or other type electrical circuit. Thus, while it will be apparent that the preferred embodiment of the invention disclosed is well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is: Y

1. A system for automatically tabulating Ibowling information comprising pin-fall indicating means for providing a signal having a magnitude in accordance with the total number of pins knocked down during the course of one frame and after each ball bowled in that frame, a plurality of signal generators operatively connected with said pin-fall indicating means and sequentially providing output signals each of a similar magnitude and each having a magnitude varying in accordance with the variations in the magnitude of said signal from said pin-fall indicating means, totalizing circuit means for providing an indication responsively to each said output signal which is received from selected ones of said plurality of signal generators, foul detecting means for providing a foul signal responsively to the commission of a foul, computer means operatively connected with said totalizing circuit means, said foul detecting means, and said plurality of signal generators and being actuable for selecting said selected ones of said plurality of signal ygenerators andfor transmitting to said totalizing circuit means each said output signal from said selected ones of said plurality of signal generators responsively to said signal from said pin-fall indicating means and to said foul signal-from said foul detecting means such that said indication in said totalizing circuit means is of the proper bowling score attained, and means for actuating said computer means after each ball bowled.

2. A system for automatically tabulating bowling information comprising pin-fall indicating means for providing a signal having a magnitude in accordance with the total number of pins knocked down during the course of one frame and after each ball bowled in that frame, a plurality of signal generators operatively connected with said pin-fall indicating means and upon actuation sequentially providing output signals each of a similar magnitude and each having a magnitude in accordance with the magnitude of said signal from said pin-fall indicating means, totalizing circuit means for providing a per frame indication responsively to each said output which is received from selected ones of said plurality of signal generators whereby the score of each frame is retained, foul detecting means for providing a foul signal responsively to the commission of a foul, computer means operatively connected with said totalizing circuit means, said foul detecting means, and said plurality of signal generators for selecting said selected ones of said plurality of signal generators and for transmitting to said totalizing circuit means each of said output signals from said selected ones of said plurality of signal generators responsively to said signal from said pin-fall indicating means and to said foul signal from said foul detecting means such that said per frame indication in said totalizing circuit means is of the proper bowling score attained, and means for actuating said plurality of signal generators responsively to and after each ball bowled.

3. A system for automatically tabulating howling information comprising pin-fall indicating means for providing a rst signal having a magnitude in accordance with the total number of pins knocked down during the course of one frame and after each ball bowled in that frame and a second signal having a magnitude in accordance with the number of pins knocked down on the first ball thrown in a frame, a rst plurality of signals each of a similar magnitude and each generators operatively connected with said pin-fall indicating means and upon actuation sequentially providing first output signal having a magnitude in accordance with the magnitude of said first signal from said pin-fall indicating means, a second plurality of signal generators operatively connected with said pin-fall indicating means and upon actuation sequentially providing a second output signal having a magnitude in accordance with the magnitude of said second signal from said pinfall indicating means, totalizing circuit means for providing a per frame indication responsively to each of said rst and said second output signals received from selected ones of said rst and said second plurality of signal generators, foul detecting means for providing a foul signal responsively to the commission of a foul, logic circuit means operatively connected with said totalizing circuit means, said foul detecting means, and said rst plurality of signal generators for selecting said selected ones of said first plurality of signal generators and for transmitting each said first output signals from said selected ones of said `first plurality of signal generators to said totalizing circuit means responsively to said first signal from said pinfall indicating means and in addition operatively connected with said second plurality of signal generators for selecting said selected ones of said second plurality of signal generators and for transmitting each of said second output signals from said selected ones of said second plurality of signal generators to said totalizing circuit means in place of said rst output signal responsively to said foul signal from said foul detecting means such that said per frame indication on said totalizing circuit means is of the proper bowling score attained, and means for actuating said logic circuit means after each ball bowled.

4. A system for automatically tabulating bowling in- 4formation comprising pin-fall indicating means for providing a first signal having a magnitude in accordance with the total number of pins knocked down during the course of one frame and after each ball bowled in that frame and a second signal having a magnitude in accordance -with the number of pins knocked down on the first ball thrown in a frame, a first plurality of signal generators operatively connected with said pin-fall indicating means and sequentially providing first output signals each of a similar magnitude and each having a magnitude in accordance with the magnitude of said first signal from said pin-fall indicating means, a second plurality of signal generators operatively connected with said pin-fall indicating means and sequentially providing a second output signal having a magnitude in accordance with the magnitude of said second signal from said pin-fall indicating means, totalizing circuit means for providing a per frame indication responsively to each said first and said second output signals received from selected ones of said first and said second plurality of signal generators, foul detecting means for providing a foul signal responsively to the commission' of a foul, logic circuit means operatively connected with said totalizing circuit means, said foul detecting means, and said first plurality of signal generators for selecting said selected ones of said first plurality of signal generators and for transmitting each of said lirst output signals from said selected ones of said rst plurality of signal generatorsto said totalizing circuit means responsively to said first signal from said pin-fall indicating means and in addition operatively associated with said second plurality of signal generators for selecting said selected ones of said second plurality of signal generators and for transmitting each said second output signal from said selected ones of said second plurality of signal generators to said totalizing circuit means in place of said -rst output signals responsively to said foul signal from said foul detecting means such that said per frame indication on said totalizing circuit means is of the proper bowling score attained, means in said logic circuit means for preventing the transmission of each of said first and said second output signals from said first and said second plurality of signal generators responsively to said foul signal occurring on a rst ball bowled in a frame, and means for actuating said rst and said second plurality of signal generators and said logic circuit means responsively to each ball bowled.

v5. A system for automatically tabulating bowling information comprising pin-fall indicating means for providing a signal having a magnitude in accordance with the number of pins knocked down during the course of one frame and after each ball bowled in that frame, signal generator means operatively connected with said pin-fall indicating means and for sequentially providing a plurality of output signals each of a similar magnitude and each having a magnitude in accordance with the magnitude of said signal from said pin-fall indicating means, totalizing circuit means for providing'an indication responsively to selected ones of said plurality of said output signals which is received from said signal generator means, foul detecting means for providing a foulsignal responsively to the commission of a foul, computer means operatively connected with said totalizing circuit means, said foul detecting means, and said signal generator means for selecting said selected ones of said plurality of output signals and for transmitting said selected ones of said plurality of output signals from said signal generator means responsively to said signal from said pin-fall indicating means and said foul signal from said foul detecting means such that said indication on said totalizing circuit means is of the proper bowling score attained, and means for actuating said computer means after each ball bowled.

6. A system for automatically tabulating bowling information comprising detecting means individual to each pin for providing 'a signal responsively to each pin knocked down, during the course of one frame and after each ball bowled in that frame, signal generator means comprising a plurality of groups of switch members with each of said groups having a decade of said switch members and with each of said switch members being individual to one of said detecting means and with each of said groups being actuable in a preselected timephased relationship for providing output signals in accordance with each said signal from said detecting means, totalizing circuit means for providing an indication responsively to said output signals which are received from selected ones of said groups from said signal generator means, foul detecting means for providing a foul signal responsively to the commission of a foul, computer means operatively connected with said totalizing circuit means, said foul detecting means, and said signal generator means for selecting said selected ones of said groups and for transmitting to said totalizing circuit means upon actuation-said output signals from said selected ones of said groups responsively to said signal from said detecting means and to said foul signal from said foul detecting meanssuch that said indication on said totalizing circuit means is of the proper bowling score attained, and means for actuating said signal generator means and said computer means after ea-ch ball bowled.

7. A system for automatically tabulating bowling information comprising detecting means individual to each pin for providing a signal responsively to each pin knocked down during the course of one frame and after each ball bowled in that frame, signal generator means comprising a plurality of groups of switch members with each of said groups having a decade of said switch members with each of said switch members being individual to one of said detecting means and with each of said groups being actuable in a preselected time-phased relationship for providing output signals in accordance with each said signal from said detecting means, totalizing circuit means for providing an indication responsively to said output signals received from selected ones of said groups of said signal generator means, foul detecting means for providing a foul signal responsively to the commission of a foul, computer means operatively connected with said totalizing circuit means, said foul detecting means, and said signal generator means for selecting said selected ones of said groups and for transmitting to said totalizing circuit means upon' actuation said output signals from said selected ones of said groups responsively to said signal from said detecting means and said foul signal from said foul detecting means such that said indication on said totalizing circuit means is of the proper bowling score attaine-d, said computer means including means for preventing the transmission of output signals from said signal generator means responsively to said foul signal occurring on a first ball bowled in a frame, and means for actuating said signal generator means and said computer means after each ball bowled.

8. A system for automatically tabulating bowling in-` formation for a plurality of bowlers bowling on one lane comprising pin-fall indicating means for providing a signal having a magnitude in accordance with the number of pins knocked down during the course of one frame and after each ball bowled in that frame, signal generator means operatively connected with said pin-fall indicating means and sequentially providing a plurality of output signals each of a similar magnitude and each having a magnitude in accordance with the magnitude of said signal from said pin-fall indicating means, a totalizing circuit means for each of the plurality of bowlers for providing an indication responsively to selected ones of each of said plurality of output signals which are received from said signal generator means, foul detecting means for providing a foul signal responsively to the commission of a foul by any of the plurality of bowlers, a computer means for each of the plurality of bowlers operatively connected with said totalizing circuit means, said foul detecting means, and said signal generator means for transmitting to said totalizing circuit means upon actuation said selected ones of each of said plurality of output signals from said signal generator means responsively to said signal from said pin-fall indicating means and said foul signal from said foul detecting means such that said indication on said totalizing circuit means is of the proper bowling score attained for each of the plurality of bowlers, means for actuating said computer means after each ball bowled, and selector means operatively associated with said computer means for allowing the operative connection of the proper one of said computer means and the proper one of said totalizing circuit means by that one of t'he plurality of bowlers with whom they are individual to said sigy nal generator means.

9. A system for automatically tabulating bowling information for a plurality of bowlers bowling on one lane comprising pin-fall indicating means for providing a first signal Ihaving a magnitude in accordance with the number of pins knocked down during the course of one frame and after each ball bowled in thatframe and a second signal having a magnitude in accordance with the number 30 of pins knocked down on the first ball thrown in a frame, signal generator means operatively connected with said pin-fall indicating means and sequentially providing a plurality of first output signals each of a similar magnitude and each having a magnitude in accordance with the magnitude of said first signal from said pin-fall indicating means and for sequentially providing a second plurality of output signals having a magnitude in accordance with the magnitude of said second signal from said pin-fall indicating means, a totalizing circuit means for providing an indication for each of the plurality of bowlers responsively `t-o selected ones of each said plurality of first and said second output signals received from said signal generator means, foul detecting means for providing a foul signal responsively to the commission of 'a foul by any of the plurality of bowlers, a logic circuit means for each of the plurality of bowlers operatively connected with said totalizing circuit means, said foul -detecting means, and said signal generator means for selecting said selected ones of said plurality of output signals and for transmitting to said totalizing circuit means upon actuation said selected ones of said plurality of first output signals from said signal generator means responsively to said first signal from said pin-fall indicating means and for transmitting to said totalizing circuit means said selected ones of said plurality of second output signals from said signal generator means in place of said plurality of first output signals responsively to said foul signal from said foul detecting means such that said indication on said totalizing circuit means is of the proper bowling score attained for each of the plurality of bowlers, means for actuating said logic circuit means after each ball bowled, and selector means operatively associated with said logic circuit means for allo-wing the selection of the proper one of said logic circuit means and the proper one of said totalizing circuit means by that one of the plurality of bowlers with whom they are individual to said signal generator means.

10. A system for automatically tabulating bowling information for a plurality of bowlers comprising pin-fall indicating means for providing a first signal having a magnitude in accordance with the number of pins knocked down during the course of one frame and after each ball bowled in that frame and a second signal having a magnitude in accordance with the number of pins knocked down on t-he first ball thrown in a frame, signal generator means operatively connected with said pin-fall indicating means and sequentially providing a plurality of first output signals each of a similar magnitude and each having a magnitude in accordance with the magnitude of said first signal from said pin-fall indicating means and for sequentially providing a second plurality of output signals having a magnitude in accordance with the magnitude of said second signal from said pin-fall indicating means, a totalizing circuit means for providing an indication for each of the plurality of bowlers responsively to selected ones of each said plurality of first and said second output signals received from said signal generator means, foul detecting means for providing a foul signal responsively to the commission of a foul by any of the plurality of bowlers, a logic circuit means for each of the plurality of bowlers operatively connected with said totalizing circuit means, said foul detecting means, and said signal generator means for selecting said selected ones of said plurality of output signals and for transmitting to said totalizing circuit means upon actuation said selected ones of said plurality of first output signals from said signal generator means responsively to said first signal from said pin-fall indicating means and for transmitting to said totalizing circuit means said selected ones of said plurality of second output signals from said signal generator means in place of said plurality of first output signals responsively to said foul signal from said foul detecting means such that said indication on said totalizing circuit means is of t-he proper bowling score attained for each of the plurality of bowlers and including means for providing a frame signal at the termination of 

23. A SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATICALLY TABULATING BOWLING INFORMATION COMPRISING: PIN-FALL INDICATING MEANS FOR PROVIDING A SIGNAL HAVING A MAGNITUDE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NUMBER OF PINS KNOCKED DOWN DURING THE COURSE OF ONE FRAME AND AFTER EACH BALL BOWLED IN THAT FRAME, TOTALIZING CIRCUIT MEANS FOR PROVIDING A PER FRAME INDICATION OF THE BOWLING SCORE AND FOR RECORCING AND RETAINING SAID INDICATION FOR EACH FRAME RESPONSIVELY TO AN OUTPUT SIGNAL WHEREBY THE SCORE ACCUMULATED IN EACH FRAME WILL BE PRESERVED AND CAN BE OBTAINED AND MEANS RESPONSIVE TO SAID SIGNAL FROM SAID PIN-FALL INDICATING MEANS FOR PROVIDING SAID OUTPUT SIGNAL TO SAID TOTALIZING CIRCUIT MEANS AFTER EACH BALL BOWLED. 